Are jealous elements out to defame Super-30 mathematician Anand Kumar?

There are  rumbles to defame Bihari mathematician Anand Kumar whose work with poor but gifted mathematics students of Bihar has earned him the highest  recognition in  every part of the world.

Ever since Anand’s  biopic featuring Hrithik Roshan in the lead was  announced, there have been claims and counter-claims meant to discredit Anand’s life-long  endeavour to educate poor maths students.

His erstwhile partner and friend went on record accusing Anand of hogging the  credit for the Super-30 project.

That was just the start. Accusations and allegations against Anand and his endeavour to educate underprivileged students  have multiplied over the months. A few days ago some of Anand’s students accused him of giving out wrong statistics on  the  success ratio of his institution.

Anand remains unfazed through all the targeting.

“The  truth  will  always come out no matter how much it is subverted,” he says tersely.

Amidst  all the mudslinging, Prakash Jha has announced a biopic on another well-known mathematician of Bihar, a move that  is seen to further diminish Anand Kumar’s aura.

However a source close to Anand  Kumar says Prakash Jha  and Anand have a  history.  “Bachchan saab’s  character in Jha’s film Aarakshan was based on Anand Kumar. Jha even invited Anand to help with the film. However, Anand was very unhappy with the experience and told Jha as much. Announcing a film on another Bihari mathematician  is Prakash Jha’s way of getting even.”

The producers, Phantom Films, of Anand Kumar’s biopic are aware of the negative stories about Anand  but are not the least bothered.

“We know where all this is coming from, and why. But we won’t give in to arm twisting tactics by people whom Anand Kumar has been has been associated in the past and are now determined  to get attention and money,” says a source from Phantom. To Anand Kumar’s relief and  joy Bihari Babu Shatrughan Sinha has come out openly in defence  of  Anand Kumar.

Says Sinha, “I’ve known Anand Kumar for decades. He is an honest idealistic  educationist who has never bothered with finances. If he wanted, Anand could’ve easily made millions from his coaching institute. But his focus is education for  the poor. It’s sad that we Indians suffer from the crab mentality. Na hum apne kuch bhala karenge na kissi aur ko karne denge (we don’t like doing anything noble and we don’t like anyone else doing it). My humble appeal to those who attacking Anand is: leave him alone. His fame is completely  deserved. Who are  you to question it?”